180 The war was fast approaching
***[Heroine Oscar]***
The banquet is held in a large banquet hall.
Other times, it would have been full of splendid decorations, flowers, and utensils, but this time it was decorated in a simple way to suit the grassland tribe’s inclination.
To suit those living with carpets on the floor, instead of tables and chairs, thick straw was placed on the floor and a carpet was laid on top.
The steppe tribe puts a fire in the center of the tent.
It is said that it is not simply for the convenience of life, but because the space is sacred.
I heard that fire is the most important center of life for steppe tribes, so they put it in a place they consider sacred.
In imitation of such a way of life, a heating magic stone was placed in the middle of the banquet hall.
Most of the food prepared is from the kingdom, but he has devised a lot to suit the tastes of the grassland tribes.
A few things are actually something the steppe tribes like to eat.
I don’t know if it was perfectly reproduced, but it must be similar because I got help from women and men who were taken as slaves.
The lodgings of the steppe tribe warriors were decorated much closer to their lives than this banquet hall, and the food they ate in the future was also planned to be composed of good responses.
‘Though this won’t put them at ease.’
I let out a small sigh.
In the future, they will fight against their own people.
Pointing swords at those who were brothers until yesterday.
At least, I wanted to show those steppe warriors that I was grateful to them.
Where we live and how we live are different, but we are allies.
On top of that, if the burden of betraying their own people is alleviated even a little, I will do whatever I can.
I remembered the brightened faces of the grassland people when I saw Puu and I.
I took a deep breath.
It’s a little uncomfortable, but if it’s comfortable for them to think that they’re fighting for the Moonchild, then let’s do it.
“…”
I waited for the Gorukawa warriors at the banquet hall and looked towards the entrance.
Behind me stood the duke’s family and military officers who would fight alongside the steppe tribes.
There is still a military officer in the duke’s family who despises the grassland tribes as barbarians.
Unfortunately, people’s perceptions and thoughts do not change easily.
Excluding those people, the military officers gathered this time were friendly to the steppe tribes, or at least were less prejudiced.
After waiting for a while, Gorukawa warriors followed the guide and entered the banquet hall.
Steppe tribe warriors move as a basis when they fight.
That part is like a kingdom.
I walked around among the leaders of the organization, saying hello to them.
Not as the duke of the kingdom, but as the child of the moon as they say.
After the greeting, the steppe warriors sat in a circle by dozens around the prepared food.
The military attaché of the duchy also separated from each other and sat between them.
Among them, there are many military officers who can’t speak plain language, but there shouldn’t be much of a problem.
Now, the main purpose is to get acquainted with the face, and several officials who can speak the plain language were busily wandering among them.
I sat down with Goruka and the warriors of the other tribes.
Goruka bowed her head towards me.
“Thanks for the courtesy, Oscar. I never expected to see food from our prairies here.”
“I’m glad you liked it.”
The warriors smile at my words.
As the food and drink went in, the warriors seemed to feel better than before.
Intermittent laughter broke out among the people.
Listen to the moon child again, which you have already heard many times.
Each tribe tells a different story.
There were a few episodes that were different from what Goruka said.
There is also a story of the moon child riding a rhinoceros beast and fighting alongside warriors, and a story of falling in love with a steppe woman and giving birth to a son.
I don’t know why, but there was also a story that the child of the moon got a child from the demon.
What kind of nonsense fantasy is that?
‘Is it similar to the story of Hwanwoong and Woongnyeo on Earth?’
Seeing that similar myths remain everywhere, whether on the earth or in this world, I thought that there might have been something in the distant past.
It is not that the beast and man actually married.
I wonder if it’s just that someone from an extraterrestrial world with excellent civilization or people called gods arrived on an uncivilized planet and got along with the local primitive people.
Or they tried to leave their genes behind through experiments.
It is possible that such a story has been transformed over time to make it easier for people to understand.
No one knows what the truth is unless they’ve been to the past.
For a while, the story about the moon child and other silly stories continued.
After the atmosphere had matured to some extent, I looked at Goruka.
“When do you think we will depart for the kingdom in the meadow?”
“…”
The gazes of Goruka and the other warriors met.
A heavy breath flowed between the warriors.
“Probably within ten days. Maybe sooner.”
“!”
Ten days is too fast.
“However, the steppe tribes will need some time to prepare for war, right?”
When I asked in bewilderment, another warrior opened his mouth.
“There is no distinction between daily life and battle in the grassland. There is no need to prepare for war.
“But it will take time for the various tribes to gather their opinions…”
Goruka shook his head with a wry smile.
“If it’s a different time, it won’t take that long this time. Originally, the grassland tribes moved as their own tribes, but this time, most opinions were unified as the kingdom army entered the grassland. Once the decision is made at the chiefs’ meeting, that’s it.”
Seeing me still in disbelief, Goruka opened her mouth again.
“The ten-day period I mentioned earlier is a period of thinking and preparing what to do with the women and children left in the meadow, and how many warriors and men to protect them. But if not, they can leave on the same day.”
“…”
Goruka shrugged.
“Currently, the situation in the grasslands is very difficult. There are many tribes who do not have enough to eat due to drought. There are also places where they have not been able to prepare for the winter at all. The 10 days I just talked about have been extended by a lot.”
oh my god.
My expression hardened on its own.
“After listening to the story, it seems that the warriors departing this way will hardly bring food, so how about heading to the border with the dukedom army now?”
Near the border, even if it is a kingdom, it is bare and poor.
There were many areas so poor that the steppe warriors could not fill their stomachs enough even if they plundered.
No matter how much a person endures with mental strength, their fighting power weakens when their physical strength drops.
This side may be able to fight in an advantageous situation.
But another warrior shook his head at my question.
“You seem to think that their weakest time is now when they come running hungry, but it’s a little different.”
Goruka quietly opened her mouth.
“Even if we set out empty-handed so as not to waste food for women and children, we can still eat enough if we hunt on the go. I have dried goat’s milk and powdered it. Powdered milk is full of nutrients.”
Another warrior intervened.
“In addition, steppe warriors can maintain their fighting power for about ten days without food.”
Goruka looked at me quietly.
“If hunting is difficult to make beef jerky or even powdered milk is not available, we use horse blood.”
According to Goruka, it continues to move while stopping the bleeding after sucking the horse’s blood.
When a steppe warrior fights long distances, one person moves with about three horses.
So there was no fear of the horse collapsing just because a little blood was sucked.
“…”
I thought I knew well about the steppe tribes, but I also didn’t seem to know their fear at all.
When this happens, it is not the time to laugh leisurely while holding a banquet.
Although they were in a hurry, the Gorukawa warriors showed no signs of hurrying at all.
weird.
Goruka smiled as if he understood my feelings.
“Wars between tribes are our daily life. Women and children, if someone attacks right now, we quickly ride away and run away. Enjoy the moment and laugh.”
Of all the gifts I sent, the one Goruka was most delighted with and received without reservation was a horse.
I have heard that preparing horses for the number of people in the tribe or more is very important, so the gift I could give was words, but it seems that I have finally learned the true meaning of it.
“Oscar, I know your heart, but the border or those close to it must be given up.”
Goruka looked at him with a serious face.
“No matter how much of a steppe I am, it’s hard to chase them by guessing where they’re going from a distance. They’re way too fast, and even if they catch up, the steppes here alone can’t beat them in numbers. We have to try to see them struggle somewhere.” Only after we tie them down will the true war begin.”
It’s really fortunate that I was able to have Gorukawa and these warriors as my allies.
I nodded with a dark face.
Steppes do not have siege equipment.
That will be their weakness.
Somewhere they have to stop their advance and attack the castle, and only then are they put on hold.
As Goruka said, he had no choice but to aim for that moment.
But how many people will die before that happens?
My heart sank and there was no more laughter.
*
That day, I sent letters to several families, including the royal family, the Marquis of Hoven, and the Marquis of Petrie.
It was a letter warning that steppe tribes would invade the kingdom in the near future.
Even I didn’t expect the Steppe Tribe to attack so quickly, so there must be many families who don’t believe me.
But I couldn’t just go unnoticed.
If not all of them, if at least one or two would listen to me, if the damage could be reduced even a little…
Thinking so, I looked up at the darkened night sky.
***[Catherine, Duchess]***
The warriors of the steppes came in huge numbers.
According to another lady-in-waiting who secretly came to see her, she was many times more talkative than human.
There was a bunch of horses a little bigger than Rose.
Oscar-sama was working late tonight to greet the steppe warriors and do the work.
The sit-in that we have been preparing for may really have to be done.
After the steppe warriors came, the atmosphere was unusual.
Attendants and officials, as well as my mother, are hectic.
Officials run around to recheck the list of items such as food, salt and soap, and technicians are said to have been summoned.
Craftsmen who make castle gates, wagons, and carts, as well as blacksmiths and artisans who are proficient in one thing, have heard that an order has been issued to move their residence inside the castle.
As the atmosphere is chaotic, Catherine’s mind is also restless and anxious.
‘Is there really a war going on?’
There were letters from father and mother, and rumors continued.
But for some reason, he seemed to think there was no way a war would break out.
I’m so anxious that I can’t seem to fall asleep.
I was sitting on the bed waiting to ask if Oscar was coming, but Anne came in.
“Madam, the duke sent me a message that he won’t be in bed today.”
“!”
First time.
There were many times when Oscar-sama came to my bedroom late, but today was the first time since we got married that he sent a message that he would not come at all.
Katrin was sitting in the middle of the bed and crawled out to the edge.
“Ma’am, why is that?”
“I want to go see Oscar. Are you in the office right now?”
“It is, though.”
“Anne, prepare the clothes.”
“The Duke must be very busy right now.”
“but.”
I am so anxious.
If I don’t see Oscar’s face right now, I’ll die of anxiety.
Anne seemed to be worried too.
I said no, but quickly prepared Catherine’s clothes.
“I can go and come back if I think you’re too busy.”
“… huh.”
As she nodded at Anne’s words and put on her clothes, Anne held her hand tightly.
“It’s okay! The Duke’s family is the strongest in the kingdom.”
“… I wonder.”
“Sure.”
There is no doubt that he is the strongest.
Although not.
Suddenly, I remembered a dream I had recently.
On that day when the sky was so heavy and strange that neither the moon nor the stars could be seen, I had a dream of falling into a black hole.
I just forgot about it then, but I don’t know why the dream suddenly came to my mind.
Catherine forced her uneasy mind to leave the room.